Vaginismus is characterized by an involuntary contraction or tightening of the muscles at the entrance to the vagina, which can cause pain, discomfort and/or a burning sensation. This condition can prevent the insertion of a finger, tampon, speculum, penis or toy into the vagina, and can also lead to a fear of penetration. After reading this definition, you may be wondering: "Okay, but what does it mean in practical terms? Is this my case?". We invite you to read on!

At Active Solution Physiotherapy, we have several physiotherapists with an expertise in in pelvic floor rehabilitation who have accompanied hundreds of people facing vaginismus and its challenges.

What Is It?

There are different types of vaginismus, each manifesting itself in different ways, but they all have one thing in common: in general, women with vaginismus experience involuntary contractions or tightening of the vaginal muscles, making penetration or contact in this area extremely difficult, if not impossible. You're not alone! This condition is more widespread than you might think. Unfortunately, due to the stigma and embarrassment associated with open discussion of sexual issues and sometimes misdiagnosis, it's difficult to establish precisely how many people are affected by vaginismus. It is estimated, however, that between 1 and 17% of the world's population is affected by vaginismus, and that 2 to 3 out of 10 women experience some form of pelvic pain in their lifetime.

Types of Vaginismus

• Primary vaginismus: you've never experienced complete, painless penetration.
• Secondary vaginismus: you've already experienced pain-free penetration but, due to various factors (repeated urinary tract infections, childbirth, trauma, unknown cause, etc.), this is no longer possible today.
• Vaginismus can also occur only in certain situations, for example, only with certain partners, only during penile insertion or only during vaginal medical examinations.

Is this me?

Possibly, if:

• You feel anxious or uncomfortable at the thought of any kind of penetration or insertion into your vagina.
• Vous avez renoncé à essayer d’insérer un tampon ou même à observer votre vulve par peur qu’elle ne soit « pas normale », « trop serrée » ou « étroite ».
• You avoid any form of penetration out of fear or following a painful experience or other negative emotions.
• Vous avez l’impression qu’un « mur » ou un obstacle empêche la pénétration.
• You experience pain, burning, tingling, tightness and/or discomfort when attempting penetration; you may even achieve partial or complete insertion, but not without symptoms or negative emotions.
• You involuntarily cross your legs, contract your buttocks, clench your jaw and close your eyes during vaginal penetration.

If you recognize yourself in this description, we advise you to start by educating yourself on the subject, for example, by reading more, seeking out support groups, using a mirror to observe your vulva and discovering yourself at your own pace. Stay tuned for more tips in future articles.

Vaginismus is more common than you might think, and there are treatments available once it's been identified. There's hope and solutions for you!

If you don't know where to start, why not start with a conversation? Be kind to yourself, take the pressure off and start with small steps to get to know your body better. For example, by practicing deep breathing exercises, performing a body scan to identify areas of tension in your body, or sharing your experiences with a friend.

An assessment by a pelvic floor physiotherapist is always a great way to get more personalized information than you can find on the internet or even in this article. But you can start small by finding out more or even scheduling a free 10-15 minute discovery call with one of our experts so we can discuss the next steps that make the most sense for you.

For people in Montreal: You can contact us here to meet with one of our expert pelvic floor physiotherapists at Physiothérapie Solution Active.

Stay tuned for our next article: "The causes of vaginismus, why me?"

Content written by : Olga Ramos da Silva Vieira

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